A security expert, Tunde Adeparusi, who survived a stray bullet allegedly fired by police officers attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, has expressed frustration over the lack of justice six years after the incident.
The shooting, which occurred in 2018 near the tollgate leading to the Lagos International Airport, involved four officers, Inspectors Christian Offor and Kingsley Umeji, and Sergeants David Eguavoen and Paul Ebo.
Despite their initial arrest, the officers were reportedly released and reinstated without consequence.
Recounting the harrowing experience, Adeparusi said the officers fired indiscriminately, and he was struck by a stray bullet while inside his car.
“When they noticed my head was lowered in the car, they probably assumed I was dead. One of them got out, picked up the bullet shells to conceal evidence, and they sped off. God spared my life, but the trauma lingers,” Adeparusi recounted.
The injuries left him impaired in his left ear and partially in his left eye. He also revealed that he drained his life savings and relied on support from family and friends to cover medical expenses.
Despite petitions to the Inspector General of Police and assurances from the former Lagos Commissioner of Police that the officers would face an orderly room trial no action has been taken.
“To this day, I’ve received no justice. These officers are back on duty like nothing happened. If I had died, my children would have been orphaned, and life would have gone on. This is Nigeria,” Adeparusi lamented.
Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Command have been unsuccessful.
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, has not responded to inquiries regarding the case as of press time.
